U.S. patent application number 10/925565 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-21 for devices with reciprocal wake-up function from the standby mode.
Invention is credited to Hammes, Markus, Hellfajer, Roland.
Application Number | 20050086550 10/925565 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34223216 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050086550 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hammes, Markus ; et
al. |
April 21, 2005 |
Devices with reciprocal wake-up function from the standby mode
Abstract
Apparatus (20) having two devices (21, 22) which can be
connected to one another via an interface (23, 24), where the
devices (21, 22) each have an activation unit which, upon receipt
of a control signal at a control input, prompts the respective
device (21, 22) to change over from a standby mode to an active
mode, and where the control signal is transmitted by the respective
other device (21, 22), and the control input in one device (21) is
an interface connection and, in the other device (22), is located
outside the interface (23, 24).
Inventors: |
Hammes, Markus; (Dinslaken,
DE) ; Hellfajer, Roland; (Bochum, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Andreas Grubert
Baker Botts L.L.P.
One Shell Plaza
910 Louisiana
Houston
TX
77002-4995
US
|
Family ID: |
34223216 |
Appl. No.: |
10/925565 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
713/320 ;
713/300 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02D 30/70 20200801;
H04W 52/0235 20130101; G06F 1/3203 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
713/320 ;
713/300 |
International
Class: |
G06F 001/32; G06F
001/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 29, 2003 |
DE |
DE 103 39 887.2 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An apparatus comprising a first device and a second device, the
first device and the second device being able to be connected to
one another via an interface for the purpose of data interchange,
wherein the first device has a first activation unit, which, upon
receipt of a first control signal at a first control input, prompts
the first device to change over from a standby mode to an active
mode, the second device has a second activation unit, which, upon
receipt of a second control signal at a second control input,
prompts the second device to change over from a standby mode to an
active mode, the first control signal is provided by the second
device, the second control signal is provided by the first device,
the first control input is a connection on the interface, and the
second control input is located outside the interface.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first control
signal is provided on an interface connection on the second device,
and/or the second control signal is provided on an interface
connection on the first device.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or the
second control signal is/are a data packet which has no user data,
in particular.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first device has
a first unit, which signals to the second device that the first
device is changing over to the standby mode, and/or the second
device has a second unit, which signals to the first device that
the second device is changing over to the standby mode.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first device
transfers just one second control signal to the second device when
the second device is in a standby mode, and/or the second device
transfers just one first control signal to the first device when
the first device is in the standby mode.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first device is
a host, and the second device is a peripheral device which can be
connected to the host.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface can be
used to transfer a clock signal and/or an operating or reference
voltage.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two devices are
designed for telecommunication purposes.
9. An apparatus comprising a first device and a second device,
which can be connected to one another via an interface for the
purpose of data interchange, a first activation unit within the
first device, which, upon receipt of a first control signal
provided by the second device at a first control input, prompts the
first device to change over from a standby mode to an active mode,
a second activation unit within the second device, which, upon
receipt of a second control signal provided by the first device at
a second control input, prompts the second device to change over
from a standby mode to an active mode.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first control
input is a connection on the interface.
11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second control
input is located outside the interface.
12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first control
signal is provided on an interface connection on the second device,
and/or the second control signal is provided on an interface
connection on the first device.
13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first and/or
the second control signal is/are a data packet which has no user
data, in particular.
14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first device
has a first unit, which signals to the second device that the first
device is changing over to the standby mode, and/or the second
device has a second unit, which signals to the first device that
the second device is changing over to the standby mode.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first device
transfers just one second control signal to the second device when
the second device is in a standby mode, and/or the second device
transfers just one first control signal to the first device when
the first device is in the standby mode.
16. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first device is
a host, and the second device is a peripheral device which can be
connected to the host.
17. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the interface can
be used to transfer a clock signal and/or an operating or reference
voltage.
18. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the two devices are
designed for telecommunication purposes.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to German application no.
103 39 887.2 filed Aug. 29, 2003.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to an apparatus which comprises two
devices which are connected to one another via an interface for the
purpose of data interchange. The devices can prompt the respective
other device to change from a power-saving standby mode to an
active mode.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The two devices may be a host and a peripheral device, for
example. For the purpose of data communication, the host and the
peripheral device can be connected together via a serial
interface.
[0004] The peripheral device may be based on the Bluetooth
standard, for example. The host may be a telecommunication device
which operates on the basis of the GSM, UMTS or CDMA standard, for
example.
[0005] In literature written in the German language, the English
term "host" is always used as such and is not translated into
German. Hence, the term "host" is retained in the rest of the text
in the original.
[0006] It is conceivable for system resources provided by the host
to be used by the peripheral device too. Thus, by way of example,
the system clock, which is typically in a range between 10 and 100
MHz, or a clock for the standby mode, for example the clock timing
at 32 768 kHz, or the voltage provided by a voltage supply chip may
also be used for the peripheral device.
[0007] Since the host and the peripheral device are each autonomous
systems, operating states may arise in which just the host or just
the peripheral device is active and the respective other device is
in a standby mode with just low power consumption.
[0008] To be able to use the system resources of the host, the
peripheral device must be capable of requesting the necessary
system resources from the host using request signalling. However,
if the host is in the standby mode at the time at which the system
resources are needed, then the peripheral device first needs to
signal to the host that the host needs to exit the standby mode in
order to be able to receive the request signal from the peripheral
device.
[0009] In addition, an active state is needed on the part of the
host and on the part of the peripheral device when data interchange
is intended to take place between the host and the peripheral
device via the serial interface. Otherwise, the receiver would not
be able to receive the data, since the serial interface is not
supplied with voltage in the standby mode.
[0010] A known way of "waking up" a respective device using the
other device is to provide additional control lines between the two
devices in addition to the serial interface via which the data
transfer takes place. The control lines can be used by one device
to ask the other device to exit the standby mode.
[0011] In addition, it is also known practice to transfer a wake-up
signal between the two devices via the serial interface. This is a
protocol-based option which can be used when at least one reception
pin, which is part of the serial interface, has a wake-up function
in each of the two devices. The wake-up function is designed such
that a device switches from the standby mode to the active mode as
soon as a signal is applied to the reception pin with the wake-up
function.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] It is an object of the invention to provide a further option
which can be used by two devices to ask one another to change from
the standby mode to the active mode.
[0013] The object on which the invention is based can be achieved
by an apparatus comprising a first device and a second device, the
first device and the second device being able to be connected to
one another via an interface for the purpose of data interchange,
wherein the first device has a first activation unit, which, upon
receipt of a first control signal at a first control input, prompts
the first device to change over from a standby mode to an active
mode, the second device has a second activation unit, which, upon
receipt of a second control signal at a second control input,
prompts the second device to change over from a standby mode to an
active mode, the first control signal is provided by the second
device, the second control signal is provided by the first device,
the first control input is a connection on the interface, and the
second control input is located outside the interface.
[0014] The object can also be achieved by an apparatus comprising a
first device and a second device, which can be connected to one
another via an interface for the purpose of data interchange, a
first activation unit within the first device, which, upon receipt
of a first control signal provided by the second device at a first
control input, prompts the first device to change over from a
standby mode to an active mode, a second activation unit within the
second device, which, upon receipt of a second control signal
provided by the first device at a second control input, prompts the
second device to change over from a standby mode to an active
mode.
[0015] The first control signal can be provided on an interface
connection on the second device, and/or the second control signal
can be provided on an interface connection on the first device. The
first and/or the second control signal can be a data packet which
has no user data, in particular. The first device may have a first
unit, which signals to the second device that the first device is
changing over to the standby mode, and/or the second device may
have a second unit, which signals to the first device that the
second device is changing over to the standby mode. The first
device may transfer just one second control signal to the second
device when the second device is in a standby mode, and/or the
second device may transfer just one first control signal to the
first device when the first device is in the standby mode. The
first device can be a host, and the second device can be a
peripheral device which can be connected to the host. The interface
can be used to transfer a clock signal and/or an operating or
reference voltage. The two devices can be designed for
telecommunication purposes.
[0016] The inventive apparatus comprises a first and a second
device. The two devices can be connected to one another via an
interface for the purpose of data interchange.
[0017] The first device has a first activation unit having a first
control input. Upon receipt of a first control signal at the first
control input, the first activation unit prompts the first device
to change over from a standby mode to an active mode, provided that
the first device is in the standby mode at this time and is not
already in the active mode.
[0018] Correspondingly, the second device has a second activation
unit, which, upon receipt of a second control signal at a second
control input on the second activation unit, prompts the second
device to change over from a standby mode to an active mode.
[0019] The first control signal is provided by the second device,
while the second control signal is generated by the first device.
The first control input is a connection on the interface. In
contrast to this, the second control input is not a connection
which is part of the interface.
[0020] The inventive apparatus permits the two devices to wake one
another up from the standby mode. The invention permits this for
two devices whose wake-up means are arranged outside the serial
interface, in the case of one device, and downstream of the serial
interface, in the case of the other device.
[0021] Preferably, provision may be made for the first control
signal to be provided on an interface connection by the second
device and/or for the second control signal to be provided on an
interface connection via the first device.
[0022] Advantageously, the first and/or the second control signal
is/are a data packet. Since the control signal is merely intended
to signal to the receiver that the device in question needs to exit
the standby mode, the data packet does not need to contain any user
data, in particular.
[0023] In line with one preferred refinement of the invention, the
first device has a first unit, which signals to the second device
that the first device is changing over to the standby mode.
Correspondingly, the second device may also contain a second unit,
which signals to the first device that the second device is
changing over to the standby mode. This measure is advantageous
inasmuch as it means that the respective other device knows whether
the receiver device needs to be woken up from the standby mode
prior to a planned data transfer.
[0024] Preferably, the first device therefore transmits a second
control signal to the second device only when the second device is
in the standby mode. A corresponding situation may preferably also
apply to the second device.
[0025] The first device may be a host, for example, and the second
device may be a peripheral device which can be connected to the
host.
[0026] The respective other device may be woken up not just for the
purpose of subsequent data transfer but also, by way of example, in
order to transfer a clock signal and/or an operating or reference
voltage via the interface.
[0027] The two devices are preferably designed for
telecommunication purposes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The invention is explained in more detail below by way of
example with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of two devices with means
for waking one another up from the standby mode in line with the
prior art;
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of two further devices with
means for waking one another up from the standby mode in line with
the prior art; and
[0031] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment
of the inventive apparatus.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0032] FIG. 1 shows a host 1 and a peripheral device 2. The host 1
has a serial interface 3. The peripheral device 2 has a serial
interface 4. The serial interfaces 3 and 4 connect the host 1 and
the peripheral device 2.
[0033] In addition, the host 1 and the peripheral device 2 are
connected by means of control lines 5 and 6. In the host 1, the
control line 5 is supplied with a control signal by a unit 7. In
the peripheral device 2, the control signal transferred via the
control line 5 is received by the unit 8. In the opposite
direction, a control signal is transferred via the control line 6.
This control signal is generated by a unit 9 integrated in the
peripheral device 2 and is received by a unit 10 integrated in the
host 1.
[0034] The units 7 and 9 generate a control signal when the
opposite party, that is to say the host 1 or the peripheral device
2, needs to be woken up from the standby mode. This control signal
which is on the control line 5 or 6 is detected by the unit 8 or
10. Next, the unit 8 or 10 prompts the peripheral device 2 or the
host 1 to return from the standby mode to the active mode.
[0035] After a certain length of time which is needed for the
wake-up operation, and after optional reciprocal signalling that
the standby mode has been exited, the serial interfaces 3 and 4 can
be used for data interchange.
[0036] Another way of waking up a device from the standby mode is
shown in FIG. 2. This figure shows a host 11 which is connected to
a peripheral device 12 via serial interfaces 13 and 14.
[0037] So that the host 11 or the peripheral device 12 in the
system shown in FIG. 2 can wake up the respective other device, at
least one respective reception pin on the serial interfaces 13 and
14 needs to be configured such that a signal which is applied to
this pin during the standby mode is detected and that the
peripheral device 12 or the host 11 is subsequently prompted to
change to the active mode.
[0038] FIG. 3 shows the schematic diagram of an apparatus 20 as an
exemplary embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 20 comprises a
host 21 and a peripheral device 22 which are connected via serial
interfaces 23 and 24. In addition, the peripheral device 22 has a
unit 25.
[0039] If the host 21 or the peripheral device 22 intend to wake up
the respective opposite party from the standby mode, the host 21
uses the interface 23 to send a data packet to the peripheral
device 22 or the peripheral device 22 uses the interface 24 to send
a data packet to the host 21. These data packets are used to signal
to the respective receiver that it needs to exit the standby mode.
For this purpose, the data packets do not necessarily have to
contain user data.
[0040] A data packet transmitted by the host 21 is received by the
unit 25 in the peripheral device 22 in standby mode. Following
receipt of such a data packet, the unit 25 prompts the peripheral
device 22 to exit the standby mode.
[0041] If the data packet is transmitted from the peripheral device
22 to the host 21, it is received on a reception pin on the
interface 23 in the host 21. The circuit arranged downstream of
this reception pin is configured such that the arrival of a data
packet is also identified during the standby mode in the host 21,
and that this prompts changeover to the active mode.
[0042] So that every transfer of a user data packet does not need
to be preceded by the transfer of a data packet in order to wake up
the receiver end, provision may be made for each party, as soon as
it changes to the standby mode, to notify the opposite party of
this using a command sequence. In this case, prior to a planned
data interchange, the opposite party needs to transmit a data
packet for wake-up only when the other party is in standby
mode.
[0043] Provision may also be made for the data packets received via
the serial interface 23 or 24 to be logged. This can be done by
numbering all of the data packets, for example. As a result, data
packets which reach the host 21 or the peripheral device 22 while
the standby mode is still in progress or during the activation
operation and cannot be received at this time can be transferred
again. The transfer of a data packet may possibly be repeated again
and again until there is an indication that the full data packet
has been received successfully.
[0044] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the unit 25
prompting activation from the standby mode is associated with the
peripheral device 22. The host 21 contains a wake-up unit
downstream of the interface 23. As a departure from the exemplary
embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the two wake-up units may also be
exchanged.
* * * * *